Bell, Annabel (Ann) (1914-2016)

BELL, RUGGLES, MOORE, DUFFY, NYBLOM, EGGERS

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 3/29/2016 at 12:17:18

Annabel (Ann) Bell
June 19, 1914 - March 7, 2016

Annabel Lee Ruggles, a daughter of Lee and Myrtle (Moore) Ruggles, was born on June 19, 1914, in Birmingham, Iowa, where her father, the town pharmacist, owned and operated the local drugstore. Growing up, she had a colorful family. Her grandmother, Annie Hope, came to Iowa from Pennsylvania in a covered wagon. Her grandfather, Nathan Moore, a Civil War veteran, fought for the Union. Her grandfather, John Henry Ruggles, worked as an entertainer, magician, and auctioneer. Ann, also, had two sisters, Dorothy and Theodocia. When the three of them got together, they, always, seemed to be laughing a lot.

Following her graduation from high school, Ann attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she met Melvin Sidney Bell. They both worked at the Hillside Café. They married on May 24, 1938, at her parents’ home. Afterwards, Melvin taught high school in Postville, Iowa, where their first child, Connie, was born. When World War II broke out, Melvin joined the Navy. Subsequently, he was stationed in Europe for two years. After his return, two more daughters, Muriel and Carolyn, were born.

The family moved to Davenport, Iowa, in 1952, where Ann worked as a saleslady at the J.P. Penney for many years. She, later, moved to Ames, Iowa, where she ran the office of the family motel business. A natural and professional sales person, she enjoyed meeting new people although she was always shy by nature. Ann was able to travel after she retired. She and Mel, also, took trips to Arizona, Hawaii, and even Alaska, where they went camping. They were both residents of the Methodist Manor in Storm Lake. Mel died on September 5, 2000, Ann on Tuesday, March 7, 2016.

Those left to cherish her memory include her three daughters: Connie, and her husband, John Duffy, of Storm Lake, Muriel Nyblom, of Bell Plaine, Minnesota, and Carolyn Eggers, of Denver, Colorado, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

Copyright © 2016, Redig Funeral Home, Aurelia, Iowa

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